Venice hotel needed before leaviing for a cruise
Nov 2nd, 2012, 06:35 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Venice hotel needed before leaviing for a cruise
Hi, Any suggestions as to what hotel or what area would be best. We arrive in May for two nights prior to leaving out of Venice on a 7 night cruise for our 50th anniversary. Not sure if we should stay directly in Venice or maybe Mestre area? We are 70 and don't want to be lugging luggage and walking. Is there a water taxi from the airport directly into Venice? Or are we better staying on the mainland and either taking a taxi or bus over to Venice? Returning from the cruise what is the best way to get back to the airport? Thanks for your help.
Nov 2nd, 2012, 07:07 PM
#2
Do not stay in Mestre!It is on the mainland, and not a nice area. There is only one Venice, so stay there. You can take the Alilaguna boat from the airport(public transportation) or a private water taxi to Venice.
Your hotel location in Venice will dictate which to use. Bridges over canals have stairs up and down each side so find a hotel on the water where you don't need to cross the bridges with your luggage. Even though we only ever have carry on luggage, the bridges are a pain. We've done it.Find a hotel in Venice on a canal or with a canal access where the bellman can meet you and you'll be fine. If you are going on a big cruise ship, you'll need to get a water taxi to get there. If a smaller ship, it's much easier to get to mooring on the Zattere. Again, do not even consider staying in Mestre,bad, bad idea.
Your hotel location in Venice will dictate which to use. Bridges over canals have stairs up and down each side so find a hotel on the water where you don't need to cross the bridges with your luggage. Even though we only ever have carry on luggage, the bridges are a pain. We've done it.Find a hotel in Venice on a canal or with a canal access where the bellman can meet you and you'll be fine. If you are going on a big cruise ship, you'll need to get a water taxi to get there. If a smaller ship, it's much easier to get to mooring on the Zattere. Again, do not even consider staying in Mestre,bad, bad idea.
Nov 2nd, 2012, 09:12 PM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,557
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi
Congratulations on your 50th. Good health and happiness for your next 50
Firstly re info for hotel. Please provide a budget in euro to assist us with suggestions for hotels.
Transport etc.: GR8 info here - http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/...-marittima.htm. Water taxis are very expensive but if you can afford it they are the quickest and most convenient means to get from the airport. We used Alilaguna - http://www.alilaguna.it.
I agree with Happy - don't stay in Mestre.
Congratulations on your 50th. Good health and happiness for your next 50
Firstly re info for hotel. Please provide a budget in euro to assist us with suggestions for hotels.
Transport etc.: GR8 info here - http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/...-marittima.htm. Water taxis are very expensive but if you can afford it they are the quickest and most convenient means to get from the airport. We used Alilaguna - http://www.alilaguna.it.
I agree with Happy - don't stay in Mestre.
Nov 3rd, 2012, 06:08 AM
#4
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The website that Worldinabag recommended above is a good one, and it lists several hotels that are on or near Piazzale Roma. You can get a bus directly from the airport to P. Roma. Then, the morning of the cruise you can catch the People Mover (tram) to the port.
Nov 10th, 2012, 07:19 PM
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you all for your replies. I haven't looked yet at hotels in Venice but I am curious as to your recommendations. Is it possible to get something for two nights for 80 to 100 Euros per night? Piazzale Roma sounds like a good location. Any recommendations for hotels that you have stayed at?
Thank you also for your anniversary wishes. We always travel with carry-on luggage but for a week cruise I don't know if it is possible.
Thank you also for your anniversary wishes. We always travel with carry-on luggage but for a week cruise I don't know if it is possible.
Nov 10th, 2012, 08:18 PM
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
OK I have been checking on Venere for hotels. Is anybody familiar with Hotel ai Tolentini or Hotel Albergo Marin? Any other suggestions? Are non-refundable deals the norm? I get nervous when I am booking so far in advance and anything can happen between now and then. We are budget minded but want our two nights in Venice to be nice. This is our second time in Venice but the first time leaving on a cruise from there. Thank you for your help. Carole
Nov 11th, 2012, 03:55 AM
#8
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<i><font color=#555555>"We are 70 and don't want to be lugging luggage and walking. We are budget minded... I get nervous when I am booking so far in advance..."</font></i>
Three strikes may find you out. Given your criteria, Venice may not be a great place for you.
Lugging luggage and walking is THE way of life in Venice. You can get door-to-door water service (after lugging your luggage for ten minutes to the airport's boat docks), but you need to plan for water-edge locations and you'll pay a premium price for a private water taxi. (IMO, the cost is worth it if you want to eliminate walking and lugging.)
Hotels located near the water's edge tend to cost more. Finding an decent 80€ room that is super convenient to a boat stop is like finding a needle in a haystack. The best cheaper rooms get rented way far in advance. And May is the most popular month for tourists looking for Venice at its best. You're asking for the impossible. You have little time to get your act in gear.
I know several priests who stay at Albergo Al Gobbo. It's a short walk from the train station, and it's over the bridge from Ponte Guglie, which happens to be an Alilaguna stop on the orange (Arancio) line from the airport. It's easy to find with a good map, and the hotel is simple, clean, and well-run.
The Don Orione Cultural Center has a religious guest house, and they may have rooms in your price range. They are very convenient to the Zattere stop in Dorsoduro, a short boat ride away from the cruise ships, but there is a little walking and maybe one bridge to cross.
And frankly, I found HappyTrvlr's poor choice of words in bad taste. Mestre is not Venice, but it's a lovely place with very lovely people.
It's definitely less expensive to stay there, but it's not a convenient choice for the cruise ships in Venice.
Three strikes may find you out. Given your criteria, Venice may not be a great place for you.
Lugging luggage and walking is THE way of life in Venice. You can get door-to-door water service (after lugging your luggage for ten minutes to the airport's boat docks), but you need to plan for water-edge locations and you'll pay a premium price for a private water taxi. (IMO, the cost is worth it if you want to eliminate walking and lugging.)
Hotels located near the water's edge tend to cost more. Finding an decent 80€ room that is super convenient to a boat stop is like finding a needle in a haystack. The best cheaper rooms get rented way far in advance. And May is the most popular month for tourists looking for Venice at its best. You're asking for the impossible. You have little time to get your act in gear.
I know several priests who stay at Albergo Al Gobbo. It's a short walk from the train station, and it's over the bridge from Ponte Guglie, which happens to be an Alilaguna stop on the orange (Arancio) line from the airport. It's easy to find with a good map, and the hotel is simple, clean, and well-run.
The Don Orione Cultural Center has a religious guest house, and they may have rooms in your price range. They are very convenient to the Zattere stop in Dorsoduro, a short boat ride away from the cruise ships, but there is a little walking and maybe one bridge to cross.
And frankly, I found HappyTrvlr's poor choice of words in bad taste. Mestre is not Venice, but it's a lovely place with very lovely people.
It's definitely less expensive to stay there, but it's not a convenient choice for the cruise ships in Venice.
Nov 11th, 2012, 06:21 AM
#9
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,282
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I live in Venice, agree with some of the above advice but not all.
Agree don't stay in Mestre, get one of the Alilaguna water buses from the airport to a hotel easily reachable from any Alilaguna stop without (ideally) crossing any bridges. Map of routes & stops here - http://www.alilaguna.it/en/lines/lines-map.
I disagree with the advice to stay near Piazzale Roma which is the most charmless area of Venice, at the land bridge end - Piazzale Roma itself is just basically a bus station surrounded by modernish offices & multi-storey carparks. If however you do decide to stay in that area, it makes more sense to get a land bus from the airport to Piazzale Roma rather than the Alilaguna boats which don't stop there (so another more charmless aspect IMO).
You don't *need* to get a water taxi to the cruise terminal, you can get one of the city water buses - the vaporetti. First, look up where you have to check in - most are at Piazzale Roma but for a few you can do it at the old Stazione Marittima, near the San Basilio vaporetto stop on the Zattere (or occasionally at Tronchetto, but I think that's only when works are going on at Piazzale Roma). To either of them, from a hotel which is conveniently near a Alilaguna stop for when you arrive, you can also get a vaporetto when you leave. (The Alilaguna stops are a subset of the vaporetto stops.)
Don't be disheartened! We had my PILs visiting in the summer, they are in their 70s, my MIL is a full-time wheelchair user & we got on fine. They were staying on a cruise ship which docked here for 2 days, and we got around very well each day with a combination of vaporetti and walking. (For anyone who can't do bridges at all, the comune's website has some very useful itineraries - http://www.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm.../IDPagina/1381.)
I don't personally know any of the hotels you or others mention but here are my comments on the locations:
Albergo Ai Tolentini & Albergo Marin (NB Albergo is the Italian for hotel): both involve 2 bridges from Piazzale Roma which is the nearest vaporetto stop (Alilaguna boats don't stop there).
Hotel Dolomiti: also at that charmless landward end of Venice, but on the opposite side of the Grand Canal, near the railway station instead of Piazzale Roma. Not an area I'd want to stay in - just off the main drag to/from the station, always full of tourists & crammed with cheap tat stalls & shops. Nearest Alilaguna stop is Guglie (across 1 bridge), nearest vaporetto is Ferrovia (no bridge but always v. busy).
Adua Hotel & Albergo Al Gobbo: right on that main drag to/from the station.
Don Orione Cultural Centre: we actually looked into staying there initially when moving here & looking for somewhere cheapish to stay until we got sorted out with a long-term flat. But double rooms (even in March) were E139-152pn - not cheap! It was cheaper to stay in a holiday flat, plus we had more room, could do laundry etc.
(Actually, holiday flats can be a good cheaper option, but most won't do as few as 2 nights.)
There are other convents, some of which are cheaper. When we were doing a 3 month intensive Italian course here, many of the other students (of all ages) stayed at the convent of the Redentore which should be in your price range. One older lady stayed there for a year, so it must be OK! It's not a location I'd normally recommend, being on the Giudecca island rather than on the main islands; but I think it may fit the bill, it's quite a nice, peaceful area with lovely views and has frequent vaporetto services to the main islands. The nearest vaporetto stop is Redentore which involves no bridges, the nearest Alilaguna stop is Zitelle which involves one bridge and a very straightfoward walk along the 'front'.
As for non-refundable hotel rates - this is absolutely normal here, gets you a better rate & I've never had a problem with going for it. If you did have to cancel, that's one of the things that travel insurance is there for.
Agree don't stay in Mestre, get one of the Alilaguna water buses from the airport to a hotel easily reachable from any Alilaguna stop without (ideally) crossing any bridges. Map of routes & stops here - http://www.alilaguna.it/en/lines/lines-map.
I disagree with the advice to stay near Piazzale Roma which is the most charmless area of Venice, at the land bridge end - Piazzale Roma itself is just basically a bus station surrounded by modernish offices & multi-storey carparks. If however you do decide to stay in that area, it makes more sense to get a land bus from the airport to Piazzale Roma rather than the Alilaguna boats which don't stop there (so another more charmless aspect IMO).
You don't *need* to get a water taxi to the cruise terminal, you can get one of the city water buses - the vaporetti. First, look up where you have to check in - most are at Piazzale Roma but for a few you can do it at the old Stazione Marittima, near the San Basilio vaporetto stop on the Zattere (or occasionally at Tronchetto, but I think that's only when works are going on at Piazzale Roma). To either of them, from a hotel which is conveniently near a Alilaguna stop for when you arrive, you can also get a vaporetto when you leave. (The Alilaguna stops are a subset of the vaporetto stops.)
Don't be disheartened! We had my PILs visiting in the summer, they are in their 70s, my MIL is a full-time wheelchair user & we got on fine. They were staying on a cruise ship which docked here for 2 days, and we got around very well each day with a combination of vaporetti and walking. (For anyone who can't do bridges at all, the comune's website has some very useful itineraries - http://www.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm.../IDPagina/1381.)
I don't personally know any of the hotels you or others mention but here are my comments on the locations:
Albergo Ai Tolentini & Albergo Marin (NB Albergo is the Italian for hotel): both involve 2 bridges from Piazzale Roma which is the nearest vaporetto stop (Alilaguna boats don't stop there).
Hotel Dolomiti: also at that charmless landward end of Venice, but on the opposite side of the Grand Canal, near the railway station instead of Piazzale Roma. Not an area I'd want to stay in - just off the main drag to/from the station, always full of tourists & crammed with cheap tat stalls & shops. Nearest Alilaguna stop is Guglie (across 1 bridge), nearest vaporetto is Ferrovia (no bridge but always v. busy).
Adua Hotel & Albergo Al Gobbo: right on that main drag to/from the station.
Don Orione Cultural Centre: we actually looked into staying there initially when moving here & looking for somewhere cheapish to stay until we got sorted out with a long-term flat. But double rooms (even in March) were E139-152pn - not cheap! It was cheaper to stay in a holiday flat, plus we had more room, could do laundry etc.
(Actually, holiday flats can be a good cheaper option, but most won't do as few as 2 nights.)
There are other convents, some of which are cheaper. When we were doing a 3 month intensive Italian course here, many of the other students (of all ages) stayed at the convent of the Redentore which should be in your price range. One older lady stayed there for a year, so it must be OK! It's not a location I'd normally recommend, being on the Giudecca island rather than on the main islands; but I think it may fit the bill, it's quite a nice, peaceful area with lovely views and has frequent vaporetto services to the main islands. The nearest vaporetto stop is Redentore which involves no bridges, the nearest Alilaguna stop is Zitelle which involves one bridge and a very straightfoward walk along the 'front'.
As for non-refundable hotel rates - this is absolutely normal here, gets you a better rate & I've never had a problem with going for it. If you did have to cancel, that's one of the things that travel insurance is there for.
Nov 11th, 2012, 08:42 AM
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi, I just checked in for a really quick look but I am running out. I read your replies and I think I am upping my hotel rate to about $120 Euros per night. Now I am going to print a Venice map and see if I can figure out all the suggestions. Thanks so much for your help.
Nov 11th, 2012, 05:55 PM
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Reservation made! We upped the ante, bit the bullet, etc. and made a reservation at the Hotel Anastasia not too far from St. Mark's Square. Thank you all for your help and suggestions. We look forward to next May and our trip to Venice and the Greek Islands.
Nov 12th, 2012, 02:21 AM
#12
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm happy to read you secured a reservation. You'll need to prepare yourself in the following manner:
1. Finding the hotel is not that easy. Make sure you have a good map. It will help to enlarge that particular section on the map. IMO, the hotel map/PDF is useless.
2. The Vallaresso/San Marco vaporetto stop has been moved further away towards San Marco. You now have to cross a rather crowded bridge to get to Calle Vallaresso. It's possible the construction project might be completed by next May, but I doubt it.
3. The walk to your hotel from the vaporetto stop is not a piece of cake. There is a major gondoliere station in front of Harry's Bar at the former Vallaresso stop. They cater to tour groups. You can always count on congestion at this very crowded corner.
Calle Larga XXII Marzo is one of the busiest streets in Venice, because it connects St. Mark's Square to the Accademia Bridge.
You also have to cross the large bridge at Campo San Moise.
Clearly, millions of tourists make this trek with their luggage and manage. When someone claims they don't want to schlep luggage (at the age of 70), it would be unwise to advise caution.
1. Finding the hotel is not that easy. Make sure you have a good map. It will help to enlarge that particular section on the map. IMO, the hotel map/PDF is useless.
2. The Vallaresso/San Marco vaporetto stop has been moved further away towards San Marco. You now have to cross a rather crowded bridge to get to Calle Vallaresso. It's possible the construction project might be completed by next May, but I doubt it.
3. The walk to your hotel from the vaporetto stop is not a piece of cake. There is a major gondoliere station in front of Harry's Bar at the former Vallaresso stop. They cater to tour groups. You can always count on congestion at this very crowded corner.
Calle Larga XXII Marzo is one of the busiest streets in Venice, because it connects St. Mark's Square to the Accademia Bridge.
You also have to cross the large bridge at Campo San Moise.
Clearly, millions of tourists make this trek with their luggage and manage. When someone claims they don't want to schlep luggage (at the age of 70), it would be unwise to advise caution.
Nov 12th, 2012, 02:43 PM
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
HI NYCfoodsnob,
Thanks for your comments. We have been to Venice before and schlepped our bag with no problem it is just that I just had two major foot surgeries on the same foot and my husband had a heart attack in May but that is not holding us back from our travels. By May we will be ready to go. I will be armed with good directions and maps. Plus on another forum someone else had very explicit directions on how to find this hotel. Also there is a large sister hotel on the canal and this hotel is right behind it so I am hoping to have no trouble. I think we made a good choice by staying in the heart of Venice. It is our favorite city. We will truly enjoy our time there and look forward to the cruise of the Greek Islands. Again, thanks from a fellow New Yorker (now transplanted in Florida). Save travels.
Thanks for your comments. We have been to Venice before and schlepped our bag with no problem it is just that I just had two major foot surgeries on the same foot and my husband had a heart attack in May but that is not holding us back from our travels. By May we will be ready to go. I will be armed with good directions and maps. Plus on another forum someone else had very explicit directions on how to find this hotel. Also there is a large sister hotel on the canal and this hotel is right behind it so I am hoping to have no trouble. I think we made a good choice by staying in the heart of Venice. It is our favorite city. We will truly enjoy our time there and look forward to the cruise of the Greek Islands. Again, thanks from a fellow New Yorker (now transplanted in Florida). Save travels.
Nov 12th, 2012, 09:47 PM
#14
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You could take the Alilaguna straight to Lido, and stay at the Riviera which is about 20 yards from where the boat docks. If you are willing to walk more like 80 yards the Helvetia is very reasonably priced. From Lido there are boats that go virtually everywhere.
Nov 13th, 2012, 11:26 AM
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi dfourh,
Thanks for the thought. I did look at Lido but we decided we did want to be on Venice in the heart of it all. This will probably be our last time to Venice and we're only there for 2 days so we will make the most of it.
Thanks for the thought. I did look at Lido but we decided we did want to be on Venice in the heart of it all. This will probably be our last time to Venice and we're only there for 2 days so we will make the most of it.
Nov 13th, 2012, 11:46 AM
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Caroline thank you so much for all the helpful and encouraging information. We will take the Alilaguna (blue line) from the airport to the Marco Polo stop and find our hotel. When we are leaving to go to the cruise terminal we will probably take the vaporetti. I will get the information when I receive my cruise documents of exactly where we have to go to check in. When we arrive at Marco Polo airport can we purchase a two or three day water bus pass that will cover the Aliliaguna and the vaporetti? Is there a shop at the airport that sells them? Grazie!
Nov 13th, 2012, 11:57 AM
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Caroline I just checked out the Aliliguna website and I see it is 15 Euros each from the airport to San Marco and then 15 Euros each from the cruise terminal to the airport. Then I will look into a 48 hour vaporetti pass. Grazie! I am starting to get the hang of it. Warmest regards!
Nov 13th, 2012, 01:19 PM
#19
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 20,643
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We stayed in P.le Roma area at Arlecchino - this hotel has an elevator. If this is important for you, check your hotel's website and send an e-mail with any questions.
P.le Roma is where you want to be. Which cruise line? NCL has free shuttles from the square to the port. You can take a bus from the aiport, it's all land, don't get a water taxi - too expensive (unless money is no object).
From P.le Roma you can take a vaporetto after you drop off your luggage at the hotel. Get a pass from home, if your credit card works on-line, you will get a discount.
Venice is a great place to visit. FOR EVERYBODY. I worried about bridges - vaporettos took us everywhere, don't remember that many steps. It's true sometimes it's difficult to find a bench, don't wander too far away from a stop, all stops have benches to rest a little, and continue.
P.le Roma is where you want to be. Which cruise line? NCL has free shuttles from the square to the port. You can take a bus from the aiport, it's all land, don't get a water taxi - too expensive (unless money is no object).
From P.le Roma you can take a vaporetto after you drop off your luggage at the hotel. Get a pass from home, if your credit card works on-line, you will get a discount.
Venice is a great place to visit. FOR EVERYBODY. I worried about bridges - vaporettos took us everywhere, don't remember that many steps. It's true sometimes it's difficult to find a bench, don't wander too far away from a stop, all stops have benches to rest a little, and continue.
Nov 13th, 2012, 03:14 PM
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Dayenu, Yes we are doing NCL Jade. We are arriving Thursday noon in Venice and departing on the cruise Saturday morning. I am not doing a water taxi because of the price but I thought the water bus (Aliliguna). What better way to come into Venice but by boat? We will get a 48 hour vaporetto pass. I am thinking we can use the vaporetto to go to the cruise line. I have to find out exactly where NCL Jade will be and then figure out the rest. I did check out the website and will order my passes getting the online discount. We were in Venice a few years ago and walked over many bridges but then I got a little hesitant but now I feel we can do it and have no problem. We will be looking for those benches when we need a rest and if we walk too far we'll just look for a vaporetto to get us back. Part of the magic in Venice is to just walk around and get lost and discover some amazing piazzas, restaurants, etc. After 49 years of marriage we still haven't lost our desire to travel and see the world. Thank you for your help.
